Ready
or not, here it comes and you might as well get ready for it. There are countless odd quotes and slogans about
this phenomenon and they used to irk me to no end. But now, I laugh and consider my
good fortune. Life is good for me. I have my love by my side and he thinks I'm
beautiful. I'm doing what I can to keep things from getting totally out of control
and I take pleasure in knowing that things could be worse.
Those "you know you're old when ..." jokes passed
around the Internet, of aging people with their protruding bellies, failing memory, and so
much more -- I now find funny. I laugh that I can relate to some and have escaped
others; and I sigh with relief that I haven't lost my sense of humor.

How, on God's green earth, did I get here? I'm minding
my own business, behaving responsibly and moving through life, when all of a sudden
C-boom! I find myself here on the other side of young.

Oh, I saw signs along the way, but the gradual changes ceased and the massive
remake happened in what seemed like "overnight". The thickening middle,
the tweezers to the chin, the skin dryer - and coarser. The hair a bit
thinner. I ached when I stepped out of bed and creaked for several steps before
my joints lubricated. But, I've modified my diet and lifestyle to correct most of
this and made adjustments to live with the rest. It's a never ending challenge now,
I can see, where once I never gave it a passing thought.

If you are to the point where you can laugh at where you find yourself, then
follow this link to some fun stories and (sorry to say)
pitiful projections. If you're not quite there, cut yourself some slack and check
back later.

As the lenses in our eyes
begin to lose some of the elasticity needed to focus on near objects, our close-up vision
deteriorates. Around the age of 40 we begin to find ourselves straining to
read. We compensate by holding printed materials farther and farther away, which
helps to bring them into focus. This is a sign of a natural eye condition that everyone
faces sooner or later.

Progressive
lenses will correct presbyopia without the unflattering lines of bifocals.

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A Nationwide survey of more than 1,000 baby boomers
conducted online January 2002, by VariluxŌ progressive lenses, asked boomers about boomer
culture, attitudes, ideals and concerns. They split the boomers into two categories:
younger (37-46) and older (47-55).Who Needs Style?
Half of boomers arent spending any time worrying about the latest trends. When asked
how important it is to be "in-style," 47 percent of younger boomers and 52
percent of older boomers said "not at all."

No Slowing Down
Theres no drop in the daily exercise routine for older boomers. In fact, they
actually exercise more than their younger counterparts. Fifteen percent of older boomers
said they exercise 4-5 times a week, just a shade higher than younger boomers (14%).
Twenty-three percent of older boomers squeeze in a workout 1-2 times a week, compared to
20 percent for younger boomers.

One Thing We Can All Agree On
When asked which current boomer figures were the best role models for the boomer
generation, the top three were the same for both older and younger boomers President
George W. Bush, Tom Hanks and Rudi Giuliani topped the lists.

Closed for Business?
The sexual fire stops burning for some once they reach older boomer status. Fourteen
percent of younger boomers said they rarely or never have sex. That number jumps to 21
percent for older boomers.

Optimism Fades
Optimism has faded more among older boomers than younger boomers since the events of
September 11. A third of older boomers (33%) say they are less optimistic since the events
of last year. Less than a quarter (24%) of younger boomers said the same.

The Eyes Dont Have It
Not surprisingly, older boomers are facing more struggles with their vision. Some areas
that boomers said have been impacted by changes in vision due to age are: Older Boomers
Younger Boomers Reading 56% 44%Using a Computer 31% 20%
Driving 25% 20%

I woke up 54 today. Was it the
first thing on my mind or the second? I was thinking also of the tragedy in New
York; reminded, surely, by last night's musical tribute. I'd noticed the ages of the
artists I've grown up with: the amazing artistry of Neil Young, Billy Joel, Paul Simon,
the adorable Goldie Hawn, and the indomitable Willy Nelson. I pondered, last night,
how it makes no difference; whether you're 50 or 20, whether you are beautiful or you're
not.

I listened to the
breathing of my love beside me and thought how solid my life is with him in it. I
moved against him and breathed in his scent. He stirred and I let him go. A dog
barked - I thought of my neighbors. A breeze blew in the window - it's going to be a
warm summer's day, on the eve of autumn. My daughter will call, Dad will be by with
flowers and love, my family will be thinking of me and I of them. All will be well.